sustainable water management in asia

ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Sustainable Water Management in Asia: Ch ll d O t itiChallenges and Opportunities

Dr. Ir. Khin Ni Ni Thein, B.E. (Civil), M.E. (WRDE), Dip.H.E. (Delft), M.Sc. (Computational Hydraulics, Delft), Ph.D. (Hydroinformatics, Delft)

Vice President for Development and Resources AITVice President for Development and Resources, AIT

Transmitted from the Deakin University to ICEWaRM grid, Australia, 14 October 2008

Water isWater isWater isWater is

•• SocioSocio--economic Developmenteconomic Development

•• Quality of LifeQuality of Life

P t All i tiP t All i ti•• Poverty AlleviationPoverty Alleviation

Common Issues on Water Cycle in Asia

• Floods, Cyclones and Tsunami

• Drought

• Water Scarcity

• Water Pollution• Water Pollution

• Ecosystem degradation

Photo Source – Asia Water Cycle

• Climate Change Impact

Lack of Access to Safe Lack of Access to Safe Drinking Water & SanitationDrinking Water & Sanitation

Food SecurityFood SecurityFood SecurityFood Security

Photo source- http://www.est-direct.com

Impact of Energy SecurityImpact of Energy Securityp gy yp gy y

OR

Too Little Water Too Much WaterToo Little Water, Too Much Water

D htD ht Potable water?Potable water?DroughtDrought

A i Ri D O tAsian Rivers Dry Out

Five rivers in Asia serving over 870 million people are among the top ten, most threatened in the world, as dams, water extraction and climate change all take their toll (WWF, World Water Day 2007)Water Day 2007)

The YangtzeSalween-NuSalween-NuIndus, GangesMekong Lancang Yangtze DolphinMekong-Lancang Yangtze Dolphin

Photo source - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4367135.stm

Our ChallengesOur Challenges

Asia’s Growth2006 2006 Regional GDP grew at Regional GDP grew at 88..33%, the fastest since %, the fastest since 1995199519951995..

Rapid expansion in Rapid expansion in 2007 2007 with GDP growth seen at with GDP growth seen at 77..66%. (Source: ADB data)%. (Source: ADB data)

2008 global financial crisis

Natural climate + financial climate change ?

Increased Competition for Scarce WaterIncreased Competition for Scarce WaterE i G th + P l ti th

+ Climate ChangeImpact

Economic Growth + Population growth

Impact

Increasing:• demand for water• pollution loads

DecreasingResource

Increased competition for scarce water resourcesp

Conflicts - local, national & regional levels

When water is unfit for its intended use, it is then considered polluted. Water Pollution

There are 2 types of pollution:

, ppollution occurs when a body of water is adversely affected due to the addition of

large amounts of materials (natural or unnatural) to the water.

Point Source Pollution:pollutants discharged from an identifiable point (pipes, ditches, channels, sewers, tunnels and

i )containers)

Non Point Source Pollution:wide-spread overland runoff containing pollutants.wide spread overland runoff containing pollutants. Does not originate from one specific location and pollution discharges over a wide area.(acid rain, agricultural runoff)

Source: www.groundwater.org; www.zephryrys.demon.co.uk\water pollution.htm - Water pollution and Society. Krantz D & Kifferstein B.

Non-point source pollution is the most difficult to identify and manage.

• Biosphere

• Aquatic environment

• Spiritual and Ethical Values

Addressing Water ScarcityRequires:

g y

• an intersectoral and multidisciplinary approach tomanage water resources in order to maximize economic and social welfare in an equitable mannereconomic and social welfare in an equitable mannerwithout compromising the sustainability of vitalecosystems

• integration across sectors!

Integration across sectorsThis integration needs to take into account:

g

DevelopmentSupply

DemandUse

AND . . to place the emphasis on PEOPLE!AND . . to place the emphasis on PEOPLE!

To place the emphasis on people also implies to their livelihood and the ecosystem that sustain themand the ecosystem that sustain them.

On demand side• Enhancing water productivity is paramount to sustainablewater management

• Water use awareness at individual and household level ismost important to keep the demand low

On supply side• Efficient water resources developments that include allEfficient water resources developments that include all

kinds of water storage method• Water purification

Desalination water reuse and recycling• Desalination, water reuse and recycling• Sustainable Ground Water Use

Numbers • Around 1.2 billion people = 1/5 of the world’s populationface physical water scarcity - 500 million more . . .

• Another 1.6 billion people = 1/4 of the world’s populationface economic water shortage

• Asia’s total population is more than 50% of the p pworld’s population

The complexity p y• The appropriate scale for understanding water scarcity is at

the local or regional level

• Financing mechanism is largely managed at the global level

Water scarcity symptoms• Severe environmental degradation• River desiccation and pollution• Declining Ground Water levels• Declining Ground Water levels• Increasing problems of water allocation where somegroups win at the expense of others

Three kinds of water scarcity• Physical water scarcity • Economic water shortage (lack of necessary infrastructure

to take water from rivers and aquifers)q )• Mismanagement caused water shortage (lack of good water

governance)

In the context of MDGs. . The Millenni m De elopment GoalsThe Millennium Development Goals

GOAL 1 ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY AND HUNGER

GOAL 2 ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION

GOAL 3 PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN

GOAL 4 REDUCE CHILD MORTALITY

GOAL 5 IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH

GOAL 6 COMBAT HIV/AIDS, MALARIA, AND OTHER DISEASES

GOAL 7 ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

GOAL 8 DEVELOP A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT

Water related MDGsGOAL 1 – Water related

GOAL 2 – Water relatedGOAL 2 Water related

GOAL 4 – Water related





All MDGs are water related in one way or the other!

Water and Poverty:i f Lif d Li lih dan issue of Life and Livelihood

• Poverty makes poor poorer

• Developing countries pay 5 to 10 times more per unit p g p y pof water than those with piped water (UNDP data)

• Poor people have to use unclean water• Poor people have to use unclean water

• Poor people lack sanitation facilities

Water and Poverty contd.:i f Lif d Li lih dan issue of Life and Livelihood

• For poor people, water scarcity is not only drought and riversrunning dry

• It is about guaranteeing the fair and safe access they need to• It is about guaranteeing the fair and safe access they need tosustain their lives and secure their livelihood!

• an issue of life and their livelihood. . . . ..an issue of life and their livelihood . .

• It is about how institutions function and how transparency andequity are guaranteed in decisions affecting their lives . .y g g

• It is about the choices on infrastructure development and the way they are managed – hence the quality of governance!

Our OpportunitiesOur Opportunities

Opportunities:Introducing sustainable water management

Effective and equitable management practices requires:

• Knowledge Political level

• Expertise Institutional level@• Investment Technical level

O t iti t k it d l t d t ti tOpportunities to work on capacity development, adaptation to climate change, risk management, resilience, financing,

investment, private sector involvement, CSR, and Peace!

Water investment needs by AsiaFrom 2005 to 2030

Asia and Oceania – 9.0 (trillions of dollars)South/Latin America – 5.0 (trillions of dollars)Europe – 4.5 (trillions of dollars)US/Canada – 3.6 (trillions of dollars)Africa – 0.2 (trillions of dollars)Middle East – 0.2 (trillions of dollars)( )

Data source: Peter Roger, Scientific American August 2008

Opportunities to do

Key 1: Improving investment in water to reach the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs)Development Goals (MDGs)

Key 2: Improving health through better access to water

Key 3: Producing more with less water (crop cloth furniture )Key 3: Producing more with less water (crop, cloth, furniture..)

Key 4: Intensively promote Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) conceptManagement (IWRM) concept

Key 5: Managing uncertainty for the benefit of the poor

Key 6: Valuing social and environmental servicesKey 6: Valuing social and environmental services

Key 7: Making water everybody’s business

Opportunities to do contd.Key 8: Conserve Irrigation water, ship “virtual water”

Key 9: Promote appropriate technologies: eg. Desalination as pure technological approach and hydroinformatics as socio-technological approach, etc.)

K 10 Di i t b i t k l d tKey 10: Disseminate basic-water-use-knowledge to everyone onEarth (Rainbow of Water: white water, green water, bluewater, deepblue water, brown/black water, grey water)

Key 11: Adopt low-water sanitation

Key 12: Immediate and continuous adaptation to climate changey p g

Key 13: Immediate and constant action of climate changemitigation

Opportunities to do contd.Urban dwellers in Asia mega cities face greatest problem of waterscarcity on a day-to-day basis. Many rural households producetheir own food. 800-1000m3/person to secure annual food production locally on their fields.

There are massive opportunities to improve the ability of poorpeople to lift themselves out of poverty under conditions of greaterwater security and sustainability.water security and sustainability.

To make sure that adequate and reliable supplies of water areavailable for agricultural activities for food production atavailable for agricultural activities – for food production at household level and a small surplus for other needs – livestockand horticulture.

References and useful websitesUN-Water: www.unwater.org

Asian Development Bank: www.adb.org

FAO: www.fao.org

UNDP: Human development report, www.undp.orgU u a de e op e t epo t, u dp o g

IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development, www.ifad.org

UNESCO: World Water Development Report

www unesco org/wwap/www.unesco.org/wwap/

Asian Institute of Technology (AIT): www.ait.ac.th

AIT’s Contribution to Asian Water SectorAIT s Contribution to Asian Water Sector• Nearly half a century of service to Asian water sector

• When AIT was established in 1959, water engineering was the first and foremost field of study– it is 49 years old now

G ld J bil C l b ti i 2009 j t• Golden Jubilee Celebrations in 2009 a major event,“Spiritual transformation for sustainable development: a forum of world spiritual leaders (S9)”, will be held on6-8 September 2009 in AIT and in Bangkok -- fresh waterresources and carbon emission are top priorities at the S9 conferencethe S9 conference

• It is AIT’s Golden Jubilee Gift to the region and the world

MissionTo develop highly qualified and committedTo develop highly qualified and committed professionals who will play a leading role

in the sustainable development of the region and its integration into the global economyand its integration into the global economy

Characteristics

• Postgraduate institute with strong research emphasis

Characteristics

g g p• Internationality with an Asian orientation• Interdisciplinary, agile academicsp y, g• Relevance• Capacity building for sustainable development Capacity building for sustainable development• Profession orientation

Multicultural Environment1,918 Students from 45 countries / territories 14,769 Alumni from 79 countries / territories22,738 Short-term Trainees from 71 countries / territories120 Faculty from 26 Countries851 R h d S t St ff f 27 C t i851 Research and Support Staff from 27 Countries– (555 administrative/research support staff)

217 Sponsored Research Projects217 Sponsored Research Projects 29 Board of Trustee members from 21 CountriesAIT Centers: Vietnam and Indonesia - plans to open p pcenters in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and possibly China and India

AIT Academic StructureSchools and Extension

School of Engineering and Technology

AIT Extension(Non-degree

t i i

School of Environment Resources and Development School of

Management

Computer Science

training, consultancy and

services)

Agricultural Systems and Engineering International

Business

Construction,Engineering and

Infrastructure Management

Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management

Design and Manufacturing Agriculture,

R d R lGeotechnical and Geoenvironmental

EngineeringIndustrial Engineering and Management

Management of Structural

Environmental Engineering and Management

Food Engineering and

gEngineering International Public

ManagementResources and Rural

Development

Business Management

Energy

Technology

Remote Sensing and Geographic

Information Systems

Gender and Development Studies

Engineering

Natural Resources

Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology

Transportation Engineering

Water Engineering

Service Marketing and Technology

Development Management

Education and Training Development

InformationManagement

E ti MBAInformation Systems Natural Resources Management

R i l d R l

Pulp and Paper Technology

Water Engineering and Management

Environment, Infrastructure and

Urban DevelopmentMechatronics

Telecommunications

Executive MBAEMBA Bangkok EMBA Vietnam

EMBA-HRMOffshore Technology and

Management DBA Sri Lanka

Urban Environmental Management

Regional and Rural Development Planning Information and

Communications TechnologyInformation and

Communications Technologies

MicroelectronicsDBA Sri LankaDBA ThailandGeosystem

Exploration and Petroleum

Geoengineering

InternationalS i Advanced technologyInternational

partnersScience & technology

for developmentPure and applied research

Local needs Applied Research

Appropriate technology Local knowledge

WEM Services at AITWEM Services at AITDiploma, Master & Doctoral degree courses

Training of trainers

Consulting

Outreach activities for Capacity Building and Life Long Learning

Create linkages between interdisciplinary playersCreate linkages between interdisciplinary players

Cross fertilization between different stakeholders

Forum for spiritual transformation for sustainable development

HYDROINFORMATICS FOR ASIA PROGRAMME

AIT in many dimensions responding to the Region’s Needs

• A PROGRAMME TO CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABLE ASIA

• INITIAL 3 YEARS (FUNDING PROPOSAL SUBMITTED)

• PARTNERS

• BUSINESS PLAN

Myanmar Cyclone Nargis: permanent AIT-Myanmar Fundy y g p y

China Earth Quake: Technical and Intellectual assistance

What is Hydroinformatics?y(1) “Hydroinformatics” is a sociotechnology that utilizes the most advanced

technologies to solve water problems in the systematic, holistic, ethicaltechnologies to solve water problems in the systematic, holistic, ethical and people-centered way. It uses information and communication technology as a main vehicle together with mathematical models that include hydraulic-, hydrological, sediment transport-, predictions of ungaged basins and well-documented basins- computer-based data andungaged basins and well-documented basins-, computer-based data and scenarios simulations-, decision-support systems-, artificial intelligence-and internet-based computing-models.

t i ti l t f th t d h d t l- water is an essential part of the ecosystem and human and natural environment

- issues of climate change, gender mainstreaming, and ‘Man and g , g g,Biosphere approach’ are part of the HI framework.

What is Hydroinformatics?y(2) “Hydroinformatics” is a means whereby the number myth

strengthens the convenant between the Creator and Hisstrengthens the convenant between the Creator and His Creature in the realm of the arteries and the veins of the biosphere.

In simple term, the first definition described about the use of social and natural sciences coupled with advanced technological means to solve water problems in people-centered way – towards sustainable p p p ydevelopment.

The second definition then added the ethical and spiritual dimensionstowards spiritual transformation – i.e. to achieve poverty alleviation.

HI4A: MISSION AND STRATEGY

MissionD l t d li ti f HI t l d i l t tiDevelopment and application of HI tools and implementation mechanisms in order to ensure advancement in sustainable water and land developments as related to Asian Values and cultures.

St tStrategyEngagement of key international and national experts and institutions in meeting the HI4A objectives of realizinginstitutions in meeting the HI4A objectives of realizing sustainable development and poverty alleviation especially through active stakeholder participation.

Management and operational structure

HI4A

Water governance Maponomics Urban Water

Management

HI4A Consortium

AIT

Thailand AfghanistanBangladesh

CambodiaVietnamAIT

HAIILULLao P.D.R.

Cambodia

ChinaI di

Vietnam

HI4A The PhilippinesIndia

Iran

ICLIWM IndonesiaMalaysiaMyanmarTaiwan

NepalPakistanSingapore

E h i I t di i li A hE h i I t di i li A hEmphasis on Interdisciplinary ApproachEmphasis on Interdisciplinary Approach

Scale ModelingScale ModelingMathematical ModelingMathematical ModelingMathematical ModelingMathematical ModelingIntegrated Water Resources ManagementIntegrated Water Resources ManagementSustainable HydropowerSustainable HydropowerSustainable Hydropower Sustainable Hydropower Ethical and Social dimensions of water Ethical and Social dimensions of water

F U N D A M E N T A L S

Hydrology Hydraulics Concepts and Tools

Water Quality

WEMA P P L I C A T I O N S

(Planning, Design and Management)

WEM Knowledge Map

Urban Water

Agricultural/ Rural Water

Coastal Water

Water Resources Development & Conservation

Extreme Events and Risk Management

Map

Water Quantity and Quality Measurement, Modeling and Management

Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management

Water Engineering and ManagementWater Engineering and ManagementFocal Areas

• Urban Water• Urban Water

• Agricultural/Rural Water

• Coastal Water

• Water Resources Development and• Water Resources Development and

Conservation

• Extreme Events and Risk Management

Major Challenges for Water Professionals

• Securing water for PEOPLE

• Securing water for FOOD productionSecuring water for FOOD production

• Protecting vital ECOSYSTEMS

• Ensuring COLLABORATION across sectors and boundaries

• Dealing with VARIABILITY of water in time and space

• Creating popular AWARENESS and understanding

F i POLITICAL WILL t t• Forging POLITICAL WILL to act

• Developing good GOVERNANCE

IWDM

MTERM

ITCZM

IP StarSatellite

D N tD N tIP StarUplink

FieldSatelliteAccessDUMBO

Demo NetDemo NetUplink

IP StarGateway Field

MANETOLSR

TerrestrialInternet

y FieldSatelliteAccess

MANETOLSRInternet OLSR

PDA

Simulated

Simulated DisasterArea 2: Phuket ElephantRide, Phuket

Head Command Center: Interlab, AIT Simulated Disaster

Area 1: Kinnari Elephant Camp, Phuket

Thank you for your time and attention

Please visit AIT in BangkokPlease visit AIT in Bangkok

http://www.ait.ac.th

sustainable water management in asia

Documents